Sewing machine table of the drophead type



Oct. 6, 1953 E, w, STANTON 2,654,650

SEWING MACHINE TABLE OF THE DROPHE AD TYPE Filed Jan. 25, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR I dwardws Oct. 6, 1953 E. w. STANTON 2,654,650

SEWING MACHINE TABLE OF THE DROPHEAD TYPE Filed Jan. 25, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 i I JNVENTOR 64 -26 dwardwszanion WITNESS 5: 65 Y I 2 G/i W AT TORNE Y Oct. 6, 1953 E. w. STANTON 2,654,650

SEWING MACHINE TABLE OF THE DROPHEAD TYPE Filed Jan. 25, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR edward w Sizmion WI TNE88 BY ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1953 SEWING MACHINE TABLE OF THE DROPHEAD TYPE Edward W. Stanton,

Roselle Park, N. J assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Eliza.- heth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 23, 1951, Serial No. 207,354

3 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machine tables and more particularly to an improved sewing machine table for use in connection with a pair of sewing machines of the drop-head type.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine table for supporting two drop-head family type sewing machines, which table is so designed that it may be employed simultaneously by four people of whom one or more may operate sewing machines.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine table suitable for employment in schools and the like institutions for sewing machine instruction work and for use as an ordinary table a well as a sewing machine table, so that when the sewing machines are not in use they can be entirely concealed within the table which can be arranged as an ordinary plain surfaced work table.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine table of the drophead type which is provided with means for completely sealing and locking the sewing machines whenever the latter are in their dropped positions, so that unauthorized persons cannot tamper with the sewing machines.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the y the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of the present table with the two sewing machines in their dropped and concealed positions.

2 represents, on an enlarged scale, a fragmentary top plan view of the present table with its two machines in their upright or operative positions.

Fig. 3 represents, on an enlarged scale, a fragmentary, top plan view of one quadrant of the sewing machine table and illustrates the manner in which the sewing machine cutouts are closed by means of flush panels.

Fig. 4 represents, on an enlarged scale, a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 3 but illustrating the two cutout-covering panels in their partially raised positions.

' Fig. 5 represents, on an enlarged scale, the manner in which each of the sewing machines is hinged to the table top.

Fig. 6 represents, on an enlarged scale, a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 represents, on an enlarged scale, a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 represents a fragmentary perspective view of the sewing machine speed controller which is secured to the inner portion of the present table.

Fig. 9 represents, on an enlarged scale a sectional view taken substantially along the line 98 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the present table comprises four upright leg elements l0, H) which support a flat rectangular table top ll in a conventional manner. Beneath and adjacent each of the four sides of the table top H and between each pair of adjacently disposed legs Ill, I0 is provided a horizontally elongated side plank I2, which planks form with the table top ii an inverted pan-like receptacle. One or more of the side plank It may be appropriately apertured so as to receive one or more draw elements l3 in a conventional manner.

The flat rectangular table top ii is provided in each of a pair of its diagonally opposed quadrants with a machine-receiving cutout [4; each cutout being so located that its associated sewing machine bracket-arm is aligned in parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the table and disposed, when the table is viewed from a respective one of it longitudinal sides, in a left-hand quadrant, thereby rendering the associated right-hand quadrant available for other purposes such as hand operations, etc. Aligned with each of the machine receiving cutouts I4, I 5 and disposed beneath the table top l i is an open top receptacle which is generally designated by the numeral It. More specifically, each of the two receptacles l5, I5 is made up of a pair of vertically disposed side boards 5, It a vertically disposed rear board H and a bottom board IS. The boards l6 and I! are appropriately secured at their upper end portions to the under surface of the table top I I, while the bottom board I8 is suitably secured to the lower portions of the boards l6 and H. The forward end portion of the bottom board I 8 is curved upwardly as at It and is appropriately secured to a side plank I2 as is best illustrated in Fig. 4.

The present table is provided with a pair of conventional drop-head type sewing machines, of which each is generally designated by the numeral 20. Each of these sewing machines is hinged in a conventional manner to the rear portion 2| of its associated cutout it, while the forward portion 22 of each cutout has hingedly secured thereto a lip or shelf in the form of a flush panel 23 upon which the forward edge of the sewing machine bed rests whenever the machine is in its operative position, as is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6. More specifically, each of the cutouts is is provided along its rear edge portion 2i with a pair of hinge members of which each is designated by the numeral 28'. As is best disclosed in Fig. 5, each of these hinge members includes a pin 25 which is adapted to be received within the rear portion of the-sewing machine bed 27 and to be secured to the bed by means of a set screw 28. This pin 25 is pivotally secured to the hinge member proper so that the sewing machine head may be swung from its inoperative position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, to its operative position which is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, all in a conventional manner. Also, each of these hinge members 24 is provided with a pair of shelf elements 28, 29 which are employed for supporting a secondary flush panel in a manner as will be hereinafter described. For a more complete disclosure of the present type of hinges 2 '24 reference may be had to the Geissler Patent No. 1,669,46 dated May 15, 1928.

Each of the above noted flush panels 23, 23 is pivotally secured to the forward edge portion '22 of its associated cutout M by means of a pair of conventional type hinges of which each is generally designated by the numeral 38. Each of the two side portions of each flush panel 23 is provided with an abutment shoulder 3! which is adapted to be received within a notch 32 of a supporting bracket 33 mounted in the side portion of the cutout it so that the panel 23 may be su ported in a flush condition with the top portion of the table H. The rearward edge portion 3&- of each of the hush panels 23 is provided with padded lips 35 which function to support the forward edge portion of the sewing machine base whenever the same is in its operative position, as is illustrated in Fig. 6. The rearward edge portion 35 of each of the panels 23 is also provided with four lip elements 35 which function to support a secondary panel in the manner as will be hereinafter described.

Each of the cutouts Hi, It is also provided with a removable secondary flush panel 3'! which is adapted to cooperate with a hinge panel 23 in covering the cutout whenever the machine is in its inoperative or lowered position, as is best illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. As is disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4, each of the secondary panels 37!, when in its covering position over the cutout M, is adapted to have its forward edge portion 38 rest upon the four lip members 3%, 35 which are provided upon the rearward edge 3'4 of its associated primary panel 23. The rear edge portion 39 of each of the secondary panels 3? is adapted to rest upon the four lip elements 29, 29 which are provided upon the rear edge 25 of one of the cutouts Us. In order to avoid engaging either of the hinge-pin elements 25, 25, the rear edge portion of each of the secondary panels 3? is provided with suitable cutouts to, ii]. From the above it will be appreciated that whenever the sewing machines Zii, 2'8 are in their dropped or inoperative positions, the flush panels 23 and 31 function to close over the opening is so as to provide, as disclosed in Fig. 1, unobstructed plain working surface.

In order to prevent unauthorized tampering with the sewing machines whenever they are in their lowered or inoperative positions, each of the secondary panels 31, 31 is provided with a suitable lock M which cooperates with the rear edge portion 2| of the cutout in a conventional manner for locking the panel in its flush position. The forward edge portion '38 of each of the secondary panels 31, 31 is provided with an under lip element 42 which is adapted to project beneath the rearward edge portion 34 of its associated primary panel 23 so as to cooperate with the lock element El in securing each of the adj acently disposed panels 23 and 31 in a locked position. More specifically, and referring to Fig. 9, each secondary or removable panel 31 is provided with a suitable key-actuated lock ll having the usual locking tongue ll which is adapted to be removably received within a suitable aperture 2! formed within the rear wall 21 of each of the cutouts. In order to facilitate the opening of the cutout H5, each of the secondary panels 31 is provided with a finger opening %3 which is normally closed by means of a spring biased cap 44 held in its uppermost position by means of a coil-spring d5 of which the lower end portion is maintained within the opening by means of a plate 35 secured to the under side of the panel 3? by means of suitable screws i1, 41. The opening 43 is counterbored as at 48 and the cap 44 is provided with an annular lip 49 which prevents the cap is from being shifted out of its aperture. In order to open each of the cutouts Mi, Mi, it is merely necessary for one to unlock each of the locks M, M and thereafter project ones finger into the opening 43 against the action of the spring at: and lift each of the panels 3? upwardly off the table top so as to give access to the machine cutout id. The under portion of each secondary panel 31 is attached to one end of a chain 5| by means of a screw 52 while the other end of the chain is anchored to the inner portion of the receptacle l5 by means of a screw t3. This chain will prevent the loss of each of the secondary panels 31, 3'? but it will at the same time permit the panels to be removed from the openings so as to permit each of the sewing machines to be raised to its operative position. Whenever the machines are disposed in their operative positions, as illustrated in Fig. 6, each of the secondary panels 31, '3'! may be placed beneath its associated machine and within the confines of its receptacle.

Disposed within and at the forward portion of each of the receptacles l5, I5 is a sewing machine motor speed controller of the carbon-compression rheostat type each of which controllers is designated by the numeral 54. As is best illustrated in Fig. 4, each of these motor controllers is secured to the inner portion of its associated receptacle by means of screws '55, 55. Each of these motor controllers has an operating draw bar -56 movable in one direction by the operator and movable in its retractive direction by means of a spring which is not disclosed herein. For a more complete disclosure of a motor speed controller of this type reference may be had to the zazbriskie Patent No. 2,004,996, dated June ll, 19 5.

For operating each of the present controllers, there is provided a link arm 51 which is pivotally secured by means of a screw 58 to a bracket 59 which in turn is secured by suitable screws 59, 59 to the inner portion of the receptacle It in a manner as best disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3. An intermediate portion of the link '51 is apertured as at 60 so as to receive one end of a wire link 6| whose other end is suitably securedto the motor controller draw bar 56. The other end portion of the link 51 passes through a slot 62 formed in the bracket 59 and the distal end of this link is provided with a suitable knee-shift lever 63 which, when shifted in a left-hand direction as viewed in Fig. 8, actuates the draw bar of the speed controller. Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 6, it is to be understood that each of the motor speed controllers 54 with its associated bracket 59 is disposed completely within its associated receptacle l5 while its link element 57 depends downwardly and through the receptacle by way of a slot 64 provided within the bottom board l8. Thus, the knee-shift lever 63 is disposed outside the confines of the receptacle so as to project downwardly below the forward side plank I 2 of the table in a manner as best disclosed in Fig. 1. The operator may conveniently actuate the knee-shift lever in the usual manner so as to control the speed of the sewing machine through the speed controller which is wired to the machine in a conventional manner which is not illustrated herein. As is illustrated in Fig. 4 the knee-shift lever 63 is pivotally secured to a bracket 65 which is carried by the lower end portion of the link 51 so that the kneeshift lever may be thrown upwardly and out of its operative position whenever the present table is to be used for purposes other than sewing. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 6, the lower surface of the table top H is provided with an electrical junction box 66 which is connected to each of the motor controller units 54 by a suitable conduit 61 while the junction box is in turn connected to a suitable source of electrical current by means of an appropriate conduit 68.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. A sewing machine table comprising a plurality of leg members, a flat oblong table top carried upon said leg members and provided in each of a pair of its diagonally opposed quadrants with an oblong machine-receiving cutout positioned with its major axis in parallelism with the major axis of said table top so as to provide openings through which a pair of sewing machines are dropped when not in use, a pair of hinges each secured to said table top along the rearward edge of a respective one of said cutouts for supporting the rear edge of a sewing machine bed, a pair of flush panels each being narrower than said cutouts and being hinged to the table top and along the forward edge of a respective one of said cutouts, means carried by the free edge of each of said panels for supporting the forward edge of a sewing machine bed when the latter is raised to operative position, a pair of secondary flush panels each being removably positioned in cooperative relation with one of said flush panels for completely closing a respective one of said cutouts when the sewing machine is in its dropped position and means carried upon the free edge of each of said panels and upon the table top along the rearward edge of each cutout for supporting said secondary panels.

2. A sewing machine table comprising a plurality of leg members, a fiat oblong table top carried upon said leg members and provided in each of a pair of its diagonally opposed quadrants with an oblong machine-receiving cutout positioned with its major axis in parallelism with the major axis of said table top soas to provide openings through which a pair of sewing machines are dropped when not in use, a pair of hinges each secured to said table top along the rearward edge of a respective one of said cutouts for supporting the rear edge of a sewing machine bed, a pair of flush panels each being narrower than said cutout and being hinged to the table top and along the forward edge of a respective one of said cutouts, means carried by the free edge of each of said panels for supporting the forward edge of a sewing machine bed when the latter is raised to operative position, a pair of secondary flush panels each being removably positioned in cooperative relation with one of said flush panels for completely closing a respective one of said cutouts when the sewing machine is in its dropped position, flange means carried upon the forward edge of each of said secondary panels for removable interengagement with the free edge of a respective one of said first mentioned panels, and locking means carried by each of said secondary panels for removable engagement with the table top.

3. A sewing machine table comprising a plurality of leg members, a flat oblong table top mounted upon said leg members provided in each of a pair of its diagonally opposed quadrants with an oblong machine-receiving cutout positioned with its major axis in parallelism with the major axis of said table top, a pair of open topped boxlike receptacles each disposed beneath said table top and in direct communication with a respective one of said cutouts so as to provide a pair of open topped cavities into which a pair of sewing machines are dropped when not in use, a pair of hinges each secured to said table top along the rearward edge of a respective one of said cutouts for supporting the rear edge of a sewing machine bed, a pair of flush panels each being narrower than said cutouts and being hinged to the table top and along the forward edge of a respective one of said cutouts, means carried by the free edge of each of said panels for supporting the forward edge of a sewing machine bed when the latter is raised to operative position, a pair of secondary flush panels of which each is removably positioned in cooperative relation with one of said flush panels for completely closing a respective one of said cutouts when the sewing machine is in its dropped position, flange means carried upon the forward edge of each of said secondary panels for removable interengagement with the bottom free edge of a respective one of said first mentioned panels, and locking means carried by the rear edge of each of said secondary panels for removable engagement with the table top along the rear edge of a respective one of said cutouts.

EDWARD W. STANTON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 460,583 Kautz Oct. 6, 1891 1,026,400 Kundtz May 14, 1912 1,655,923 Taylor Jan. 10, 1928 1,669,464 Geissler May 15, 1928 1,820,527 Chason Aug. 25, 1931 2,168,451 Rothfield Aug. 8, 1939 2,183,366 Chason et al. Dec. 12, 1939 2,318,443 West May 4, 1943 

